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Clicking the "Install Now" link will check your system's repositories for the application you are viewing and, if it is available, install it.

What are the Requirements to Use It?

The "Install Now" link will only appear on Linux App Finder when one of the deb repositories that we track has the application being viewed. In order for the link to work you need:

1. A GNU/Linux operating system using the Debian packaging system
2. apturl installed on your local system
3. Synaptic install on your local system. This is now handled through the packaging dependencies.
4. You must be viewing the page using the Firefox Web Browser, although Opera and Konqueror support can be added per the instructions below.

apturl is the main program needed for the installs to work. Synaptic and Firefox are required because apturl can only function through them, although that may change in the future as support for other browsers is added.

How Does It Work?

apturl works by telling Firefox how-to handle URL's using the apt: format. When such a link is clicked it checks to see if the program is available through secured repositories. If it is, a dialog appears asking if you would like to install the app. If not, nothing happens. Hopefully a dialog will be added for this latter case to explain what happened.

Adding Support for Opera

A helper application must be designated for the apt protocol. Clicking the Install Now link should bring up the appropriate dialog. Type apt in the protocol field and apturl under Open with other application.

Adding Support for Konqueror

To enable apturl to work with Konqueror you can start by creating two text files: apt.protocol and apt+http.protocol. Add the following text to the respective file.

Once these files are created simply copy them to either the ~/.kde/share/services or /usr/share/services folder. The former will enable support for only you while the latter will add support for any user.